Gartner defines B2B marketing automation platforms (B2B MAPs) as software applications that support demand generation processes at scale. B2B MAPs help marketers capture and qualify leads and accounts, orchestrate marketing-driven engagement across the full customer journey, and use analytics to optimize and measure performance. B2B MAPs enable marketers to automate a wide range of activities intended to drive new customer acquisition, retention and growth. To support the pursuit of new commercial opportunities (from current or prospective customers), marketers use B2B MAPs to generate, prioritize, and manage leads and buying teams across the revenue life cycle. This includes the distribution of marketing-generated and qualified leads to sales teams for further pursuit.
Gartner defines multichannel marketing hubs (MMHs) as software applications that orchestrate personalized communications to individuals in common marketing channels. MMHs optimize the timing, format and content of interactions through the analysis of customer data, audience segments and offers. MMHs are foundational for multichannel marketing, customer journey orchestration and next best action programs.
As business processes become increasingly advanced, providers are creating reliable partnerships to scale profitable and growing markets in the PRM industry. Providers that have a large number of partnerships need assistance to reduce the administration complexities caused when working with each other. Hence, PRM software can play a vital role in reducing these business complexities. Partner relationship management (PRM) applications market as a set of tools used by providers to interact with their indirect channel partners on a one-to-one and one-to-many basis. PRM tools enhance communication, facilitate training, and support partner sales and marketing activities. PRM applications are used to help providers scale their partner programs and improve partner experience. PRM applications help organizations to simplify and integrate the process of working with partners, thereby providing partners with resources and efficient communication to increase sales on an organization’s behalf. PRM applications streamline both the management distribution and deal registrations to help reduce costs and labor involved. In parallel, they increase partner satisfaction and reduce channel conflicts.